In the past, despite its considerable influence on modern music, the natural magic flowing from Nigeria often found itself boxed off as ‘world music’ or heisted by slumming hipsters. Although the omnipotent Fela Kuti has been given his due since livening up New York’s first disco clubs, few took trouble to dig deeper to discover how much European and American music had influenced them as James Brown became a national icon. That’s just one example: the disembodied funk of Ify Jerry Crusade’s ‘Everybody Likes Something Good’ quite shockingly echoes Can’s polyrhythmic expeditions of the time, Chief Checker’s ‘Africa Irie’ pours roots reggae into the pot and the Immortals’ ‘Hot Tears’ piles in grungy rock guitars. Some of these barrier-demolishing cross-pollinations inspired by the transistor radio can be heard on this fun-packed follow-up to Strut’s 2001 3-CD Nigeria 70. Compiled by Afro archivist Duncan Brooker and Strut’s Quinton Scott, it delves back to this time of musical discovery, experimentation and celebration to create a sublimely fascinating set which opens up a vast new world to explore. Riot in Lagos indeed.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Kris Needs